The bill seeks to amend the section of state statute that exempts nonprofit organizations from paying GRT. It would create an exception permitting the state to tax nonprofits that have been contracted to operate a national laboratory.

Gov. Susana Martinez vetoed similar legislation last year.

The House passed the bill with a minor amendment that broadened the exception to include contractors running state-owned research facilities as well, though that does not currently exist in New Mexico.

Rep. Jason Harper, R-Rio Rancho, said the change would not “capture anyone” but it would also stop the bill from singling out federal facilities. The bill now returns to the Senate for consideration.

Triad National Security LLC, which the analysis said is organized as a non-profit and could seek to become tax exempt, ultimately took over management of LANL. Triad is made up of the University of California, Texas A&M University and the scientific non-profit Battelle Memorial Institute and is a non-profit itself.

The bill is not likely to affect New Mexico’s other national laboratory anytime soon. A subsidiary of Honeywell International took over management of Sandia National Laboratories in 2017. According to the fiscal analysis, Sandia paid $95 million in GRT in 2018.

Also on Sunday, the House:

• Passed a package of legislation that would make numerous changes to the state’s criminal justice system. House Bills 342 and 564 include a range of ideas that, supporters say, have previously seen broad support or were created with experts at the Council of State Governments.